According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less shelter are 1,925.56% higher in 2024 versus 1939 (a $385.11 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2024: All items less shelter experienced an average inflation rate of 3.60% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less shelter costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $405.11 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.73% during this same period, inflation for all items less shelter was lower.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by -1.41%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for all items less shelter during the 1939-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.31%), inflation for all items less shelter was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for All items less shelter, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | -1.41% |
| 1940 | $20.19 | 0.96% |
| 1941 | $21.34 | 5.68% |
| 1942 | $24.05 | 12.69% |
| 1943 | $25.83 | 7.41% |
| 1944 | $26.33 | 1.96% |
| 1945 | $27.05 | 2.72% |
| 1946 | $29.72 | 9.89% |
| 1947 | $34.51 | 16.11% |
| 1948 | $37.23 | 7.88% |
| 1949 | $36.56 | -1.80% |
| 1950 | $36.77 | 0.57% |
| 1951 | $39.90 | 8.53% |
| 1952 | $40.71 | 2.01% |
| 1953 | $40.83 | 0.30% |
| 1954 | $40.81 | -0.05% |
| 1955 | $40.59 | -0.54% |
| 1956 | $41.16 | 1.41% |
| 1957 | $42.54 | 3.37% |
| 1958 | $43.75 | 2.85% |
| 1959 | $44.14 | 0.88% |
| 1960 | $44.77 | 1.42% |
| 1961 | $45.30 | 1.18% |
| 1962 | $45.80 | 1.12% |
| 1963 | $46.36 | 1.23% |
| 1964 | $46.96 | 1.28% |
| 1965 | $47.65 | 1.48% |
| 1966 | $49.09 | 3.03% |
| 1967 | $50.37 | 2.60% |
| 1968 | $52.39 | 4.02% |
| 1969 | $54.89 | 4.77% |
| 1970 | $57.64 | 5.01% |
| 1971 | $60.13 | 4.31% |
| 1972 | $61.92 | 2.98% |
| 1973 | $66.05 | 6.66% |
| 1974 | $73.57 | 11.38% |
| 1975 | $80.15 | 8.95% |
| 1976 | $84.79 | 5.79% |
| 1977 | $90.22 | 6.40% |
| 1978 | $96.38 | 6.83% |
| 1979 | $106.20 | 10.18% |
| 1980 | $118.66 | 11.74% |
| 1981 | $130.22 | 9.74% |
| 1982 | $137.67 | 5.72% |
| 1983 | $142.83 | 3.75% |
| 1984 | $148.65 | 4.08% |
| 1985 | $153.11 | 3.00% |
| 1986 | $154.52 | 0.92% |
| 1987 | $159.70 | 3.35% |
| 1988 | $165.78 | 3.80% |
| 1989 | $173.94 | 4.93% |
| 1990 | $183.34 | 5.40% |
| 1991 | $190.94 | 4.15% |
| 1992 | $196.48 | 2.90% |
| 1993 | $202.22 | 2.92% |
| 1994 | $207.16 | 2.44% |
| 1995 | $212.61 | 2.63% |
| 1996 | $218.61 | 2.82% |
| 1997 | $223.09 | 2.05% |
| 1998 | $224.93 | 0.82% |
| 1999 | $229.22 | 1.91% |
| 2000 | $237.09 | 3.43% |
| 2001 | $242.83 | 2.42% |
| 2002 | $244.37 | 0.63% |
| 2003 | $249.76 | 2.21% |
| 2004 | $256.48 | 2.69% |
| 2005 | $266.17 | 3.78% |
| 2006 | $274.56 | 3.15% |
| 2007 | $281.31 | 2.46% |
| 2008 | $293.92 | 4.48% |
| 2009 | $290.85 | -1.05% |
| 2010 | $298.49 | 2.63% |
| 2011 | $310.51 | 4.03% |
| 2012 | $316.80 | 2.03% |
| 2013 | $320.20 | 1.07% |
| 2014 | $323.59 | 1.06% |
| 2015 | $319.48 | -1.27% |
| 2016 | $320.18 | 0.22% |
| 2017 | $325.09 | 1.53% |
| 2018 | $331.60 | 2.00% |
| 2019 | $335.07 | 1.05% |
| 2020 | $337.16 | 0.62% |
| 2021 | $356.43 | 5.71% |
| 2022 | $388.68 | 9.05% |
| 2023 | $398.30 | 2.47% |
| 2024 | $405.11 | 1.71%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for All items less shelter:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| CPI | 14.000 | 14.167 | 14.640 | 14.180 | 13.980 | 14.114 | 14.915 | 16.808 | 18.054 | 18.408 | 18.908 | 20.777 | 24.123 | 26.023 | 25.554 | 25.700 | 27.892 | 28.454 | 28.538 | 28.523 | 28.369 | 28.769 | 29.738 | 30.585 | 30.854 | 31.292 | 31.662 | 32.015 | 32.408 | 32.823 | 33.308 | 34.315 | 35.208 | 36.623 | 38.369 | 40.292 | 42.031 | 43.285 | 46.169 | 51.423 | 56.023 | 59.269 | 63.062 | 67.369 | 74.231 | 82.946 | 91.023 | 96.231 | 99.838 | 103.908 | 107.023 | 108.008 | 111.631 | 115.877 | 121.585 | 128.154 | 133.469 | 137.338 | 141.354 | 144.808 | 148.615 | 152.808 | 155.938 | 157.223 | 160.223 | 165.723 | 169.738 | 170.815 | 174.585 | 179.277 | 186.054 | 191.915 | 196.639 | 205.453 | 203.301 | 208.643 | 217.048 | 221.446 | 223.820 | 226.192 | 223.313 | 223.807 | 227.241 | 231.789 | 234.215 | 235.676 | 249.142 | 271.690 | 278.412 | 283.173 |